199, 1/2

“A pleasure to meet you,” Erick said, welcoming Mox Dawnsider into his office at the top of House Benevolence. “The furniture is [Fairy Item], for now, but I’ll get real stuff soon enough. Please have a seat.”

Mox scowled a little at the mention of ‘Fairy’, but she took a chair in front of Erick’s desk. “Pleasure to meet you as well, Wizard.” At her own mention of the word ‘Wizard’, she gave a little laugh to herself. “The last Wizard I met would have killed me if I were a lesser Stone Mage.”

Erick took his own seat and regarded the woman, though he had been doing so already for a while. Mox was a woman of unfortunate looks, with many scars and missing her right eye. She had replaced her right eye with a fake one made of glass so it was hard to tell this truth, but the fact that she was missing an eye at all is what caused Erick to go looking deeper with his mana sense.

Mox Dawnsider was a physically broken woman. Visually, she was fine. But in her soul, she was not. It looked like someone had splashed acid across her entire torso, the damage going from her upper left leg, inside of her bowels, and then catching her right arm in the effect. It looked like very, very old soul damage, though, which had been healed who knew how many times. And yet, it still wasn’t actually healed at all.

Other than that, Mox was a perfectly presentable human woman of dark brown skin and wiry hair. She was 105, but she looked and got around like she was 60. She had come to Candlepoint and then to House Benevolence completely unassisted save for the final [Gate] directly up to the top of Erick’s tower, and she had even stayed in Candlepoint all day long, looking around and getting a feel for the place.

Erick said, “Times change, indeed.” He moved on, “So I just hired my castellan, not half an hour ago. You should know him, Zolan Goldbranch. I’m still hiring, though the position of castellan is no longer available.”

Mox scowled a little, then she realized something deeply important, her dark eyes widening as she breathed deep. Maybe, just maybe, Erick was offering her a blank check to write what she wanted. She took the chance, asking, “What’s still open?”

“Practically anything you want.” Erick added, “If that’s acceptable, then I can continue on with the spiel.”

“Yes, I would continue—” She scowled again, her thoughts turning to somewhere else. She was mad at someone for not telling her something, and said as much as she muttered, “I asked those people at Oceanside to tell me if—” Mox cut herself off and stared at Erick. There was a need in her dark sight. “Yes. I will continue.”

… Erick would find out what that was about soon enough, but instead of asking after that, he continued on with the interview.

He laid out his general plans for the Gate District and his diplomatic goals for the future. He spoke of Ar’Cosmos and Stratagold and other geodes and Oceanside all getting along, as much as he was able to support such non-aggression and eventual cooperation. He spoke of the city he would eventually create all around Yggdrasil, joining the Gate District and Candlepoint together, along with anyone else who would show up and pledge fealty. Fealty was not expected from those nations who signed on for a four-piece Gate set, but adherence to the law and to peace was demanded while within these lands.

Longer term goals included turning the Crystal Forest green, eventually, with the subsequent goal of supporting a much larger Candlepoint and the creation of friendly cities outside the immediate area. He would likely link those areas to Candlepoint through [Gate]s, as well, and in ten years or something similar to that, Erick would be teaching others to create [Gate].

With all that said, Erick began explaining to Mox, as he had with Zolan, “Which is why you are here. You came highly recommended by Kirginatharp for many different positions, from administrator of household, to landshaping and city planning, to education, to dungeoneering, to guarding. You even have Adventurer’s Guildmaster certification, which is above and beyond almost all my other applicants. You have so many qualifications, even without Kirginatharp’s radiant recommendation, you have the job… After some magics of mine, which you have already requested of me. I must comment, though, that you likely still have another 10 years in you before you truly need to accept a [Reincarnation], or plan for retirement.

“So why have you chosen to ask for [Reincarnation] now? Why have you chosen this path?”

Mox had been tense at the start of the meeting, for she was meeting a Wizard, and the man who would either allow her to have another life, or not. Mentioning that Zolan had already gotten the job she wanted hadn’t helped matters for her, either. But now, after Erick’s spiel, she was relaxed. She was happy. She knew she had this in the bag. She would finally get what she wanted.

Erick was pretty sure Mox had this in the bag, too. She was vastly overqualified for practically every position available. He hoped she would ask for one of the more difficult positions… Though Erick himself wasn’t exactly sure what those positions should look like.

Everything was still up in the air.

Mox said, “The Headmaster cleared your [Reincarnation] as real and true because of those dogs you made out of shadowolves. I would have thought that someone would have informed me if you had actually cast it on a person, though, since that is exactly what I am here to gain. I had asked them to tell me if such an event had occurred— Doesn’t matter.” She waved a hand. “The reason I want this is manifold, but a few stand out.

“These scars in my body are very old, from when I was a child in Greendale and my Alchemist mother was working on a new way to battle the incani threat. She created a soul-destroying acid brew, meant to be cheaper than the soul destroying weapons commonly used in the Quiet War. It worked. She made more. A nefarious internal plot unfolded once my mother’s acid came to light, and she was able to brew large batches of the stuff. In the end, though, I was a foolish child while all the rest of my family was much more unlucky.

“The Viridian Throne and Oceanside worked together to stomp out those fights among the nobility. When it was over, a kind woman offered me an option of which way I wanted to go; to Oceanside, or back to Greendale. I chose Oceanside. It was there at Oceanside that I learned there was another way to live, outside the Quiet War, and so that is what I did.

“The doctors there did as much as they could for my body and my soul, but there was only so much that could be done. Their magics were enough to keep me alive, and let me grow, but at the same time that acid stripped me of my ability to have children, and it took my eye. For years I healed my eye back, keeping it around as long as I could, but it always rotted out. Never could fix my organs down there, though. Not enough to have a kid.” Mox smiled faintly. “Never stopped me from adopting, which is what I did when I was old enough and found a husband who accepted I could never have children of my own. I adopted, and in abundance, for there were always orphans from the Quiet War. How could I not? For I was one of those orphans myself at one point in time.

“All my kids are grown now, and they’re off having kids and grandkids of their own. I gave them all the best lives I could give them, but I yearn for those times again. And now, with you here and the offer of [Reincarnation] on the table…

“I am here.

“The problems of my childhood have never gone away, no matter which Soul Mage I hire to try and solve the problem. Mostly it’s cancers. Every week there is a new one. Soul cancers, too, though those are less common. Curses in tiny little bits that grow as they can into something that destroys from within.” Mox looked to Erick, saying, “So that is why I am here. I am dying, Wizard Flatt. I have been dying for 95 years. I would like to not be dying anymore, and if you can [Strike] it, I think I’d like to have some kids again. If you can’t manage to make my own plumbing work, though, I can always adopt again.”

Erick took a moment to think, but he already knew he was going to accept Mox on his team.

And then he said, “[Reincarnation] is very versatile. I can easily hit your targets.”

Mox steeled herself. She nodded; waiting.

Erick continued, “But you’re going to have to work with incani, and humans. Wrought and shadelings. Dragons, too, along with many other historically dangerous people. Ar’Cosmos is a big one. It seems you have already gotten past the Quiet War, so that is good, but I must iterate for completion’s sake that the Quiet War is not tolerated here. At all.”

Mox gave a tiny grin. “The only forces you touch upon which cause me worry are the Shades I expect to encounter eventually, but I’ve plunged into Ar’Kendrithyst and come out the other side with treasure galore and with Shades fighting each other instead of me. I work around them. If I absolutely have to, I might even be able to work with them.”

“You seem to have no problem with me being a Wizard, either.”

“I’m counting on it.” Mox said, “This world is too full of old hate and dangers spawned by that hate. I’ve seen a lot of people try to stop the evil out there, but you’re the only one to ever get this far. Of course it would take a Wizard to break this world into a better shape. Hullbreaker was a right arsehole, though; he never could have done it.”

“Your file says you were on the take-down team against Hullbreaker. How did that work? What was his final fate?”

Mox nodded. “I was on that team. Finally got the bastard by inserting gold tracking magics into every single juicy target across the entire Letri Ocean. Eventually, one of his crew got sloppy and we found his island, located beyond a ton of Pirate Magic. From there he had nowhere to run, and we grabbed him. He stood trial for his crimes and then the Headmaster sundered his soul, as was befitting for what he had done.” She added, “A lot of myths have popped up about what really happened in those final months because people don’t want to believe it was a lot of hard work that finally caught the guy, or they don’t want to believe that we actually sundered him, but that’s the truth. I was there for all of it, even the end. And sure, luck got us in the door, which is the other thing that people don’t usually believe, but it was all the groundwork we laid beforehand which actually opened that door in the first place. I expect what you’re trying to build here will require a lot of hard work, too.”

“It will.” Erick said, “I appreciate that you already recognize that need.”

Erick decided to test Mox a little.

Erick said, “You’re qualified for absolutely anything I could ask of you, but is there any job you would prefer? I’ve got all the usual ones, and I’m probably going to end up making something like a small council and I would have you on that council, on a seat equal but just below Zolan. There might be a royal court eventually, but I’m not going to call it that.”

“Since the castellan of your House is set, then which is the next most important position?”

She was testing him right back. Good of her.

“Duties can get shifted around as this place gets built up, for I’m not actually sure what is needed. But I know what I need right now is an administrator of the Gate District, or essentially a mayor overseeing international affairs. They will also need to oversee the further urban planning and development of the Gate District, and to run a large office to handle all of that in an organized manner, though all of these positions will likely need to run a large office full of people. Not many people want to come here now, but they will, eventually.

“It is quite possible that all of that will be Zolan’s job; I haven’t decided.

“This place is going to be a metropolis spanning the entire lakeside and spilling tens of kilometers out into the surrounding desert, which will be green by that time. Smaller cities will rise up outside of this particular land.

“A smaller, but no less important job is virtually the same as a Mayor for the Gate District, but for all the lands that have yet to exist outside of this land; the places I’m going to reclaim from the Crystal Forest, to turn back into prairie and actual forest. An Exterior Mayor, if you will, or perhaps more an ‘Overseer of the Exterior’. They’ll probably get to oversee the actual royal court that eventually arises out of… Some forces that have yet to exist, though I won’t call it a royal court. And that won’t happen for a while, either.

“By ‘Exterior’ I mean every city outside of the coast of Yggdrasil’s Lake.

“The mayor of Candlepoint will eventually get a seat on this council I’m building, but I haven’t told him yet, or decided how that will work, either. The man currently in that position is Mephistopheles, a Cultist of Melemizargo, and a shadeling.”

Mox took news of working with a Cultist shadeling in stride.

“All of those appointments are highly political.” Erick moved on, saying, “Less politically, and more enforcement laden: I’m also going to need an administrator of laws, for codifying the rules that we will eventually adopt, and which people will be expected to follow; an overseer of judges and such.

“An overseer of enforcement, to ensure no one breaks any laws, and stuff like that. They will essentially be the guard.

“I don’t plan on having an army.

“I’ll need an administrator of education, to ensure that all children in these lands get an education. I’ll also want to enact some education reforms, which may or may not work out well; I will need to speak with that administrator and suss out what I don’t like about arcanaeum teaching, or not. That’s a long term goal, though.

“And I’ll need an administrator of magic, with a focus on learning about Benevolence. I’ll probably be spending a lot of time there, because I have promised Rozeta that I would do some Benevolence work with her in order to better understand how Benevolence will prevent all future Sundering scenarios…” Erick almost stopped, because mentioning the Sundering got a reaction out of Mox, but he finished, saying, “That administrator will likely get a lot of my attention.”

For a long moment, no one spoke, for Mox was absorbing all that Erick had said.

With a voice almost too hopeful for a woman her age, Mox asked, “It’s true, then? You really can ensure there’s no more threat of a Sundering?”

“It’s true, as far as I have the Sight to see.” Erick said, “Melemizargo and Rozeta and others have said as much, and used my Benevolence to see an easier path forward for themselves, too. Still a lot of experimenting to do, however.”

For a long minute Mox sat there, in thought. And then a tear fell from her real eye. She wiped it away quickly, but said nothing.

So Erick said, “Zolan has taken Castellan of House Benevolence, with all its assorted diplomacy and overseeing of financing regarding the people who will work here in the House, directly.” Erick summed up available positions, “But there’s still Mayor of the Gate District… Which will probably just be Zolan, actually. Yes. He can take care of that, too. Then there’s the Overseer of the Exterior. Overseer of Law. Overseer of Enforcement. Overseer of Education. Overseer of Magic.” Erick said, “Five options. Five seats of power in five very different arenas.”

“Overseer of the Exterior,” Mox said, sitting strong. “That’s my choice. I disagree with your idea of how exterior lands should be run, though. In my eye, I see you leasing the land you transform to others, in all locations, including next to the lake. I see your structures and resources here in Candlepoint and the Gate District allowing those villages to grow into workable city states, which you simply tax, in order to manifest a physical accounting of their loyalty.

“Each such land of your growing republic will need to agree to your laws, of course. When they get large enough, you have them make a choice of fully incorporating into Candlepoint, or into a large system of city states which falls under a different name. Tax incentives can make this choice easy. I don’t think that anyone would rebel, for that would mean they lose access to the Gates and angering you, which would be a disaster, but if need be, punishment should be easy for you, with all your power, since you should be able to simply remove from power those who cause problems. But, as you say, this is a long term plan. Therefore, if there is no actual work to be done right now, I can make some elemental dungeons. They will be able to create a steady source of income while we wait for growth to naturally occur.” Mox added, “And perhaps you can even make a Benevolence Dungeon, to help others to understand your Benevolence.”

Erick found himself really happy that Mox was here, because Mox knew her shit, and all of it was good. He was also just struck by how much more complicated this was going to be than how he had envisioned.

“I like it.” Erick said, “We can set population sizes as required for seats on various levels of councils, too… If such an organization is needed. We can talk more about that at a later date.”

Mox nodded, saying. “As long as we Shape a proper plan of how everything will work within a year or two, we will be able to solve many problems before they even become problems.”

Erick had another think.

There was not a single person in his application pile more well-rounded and capable of success in any endeavor, than Mox Dawnsider. And yet, she wasn’t brash, or overly confident. She was simply experienced. The only thing she wasn’t great at was large-scale magics, but she did have some good Stone spells, which would make her useful for turning the Crystal Forest to real forest… Which was probably her reasoning for choosing the ‘Overseer of the Exterior’ position. Erick had glanced over the part of her application that dealt with dungeoneering, but with a casual glance at that part again, he could tell that she really liked that profession.

Erick got the distinct impression that Mox was an organized woman of uncommon competence, and he really liked that about her. It made his own flailing around with the naming of offices and the delineation of roles seem amateur by comparison, but they all felt correct.

And Mox felt correct for that job, too.

Erick said, “I require you to swear a Mind Mage overseen oath of fealty to me, then we will have deeper discussions on what you want from [Reincarnation]. The actual transformation will be the last thing that happens for the day, as you will be recovering for 12 hours afterward. Do you accept the appointment of Overseer of the Exterior of House Benevolence?”

Mox sat tall, saying, “I accept this appointment.”

Erick allowed himself a small smile, then said, “As for [Reincarnation], there are a few side effects. Complete Status reset to level 0. No blessings, no curses, no boons. I’m not sure if godly magic persists through the process, but I’m reasonably sure that it will not persist. You will no longer be a Stone Mage. I’m rather sure that while you will retain your memories, your self, and some personal abilities, like mana sense and aura control, your magic will be gone. Fully gone. You will have to remake it all. You might even lose your mana sense and aura control, but gaining it all back will surely be easier the second time.”

Mox’s breath hitched. “I still want it, but this is new information for me. I need half a day to organize some things. I was not aware the transition would be that deep.”

“Fair enough. There’s also this.” Erick opened the drawer at his side and took out the expanded ten page [Reincarnation] sheet. He slid it across the desk to Mox. She took it and began leafing through, both eyes widening, though only her real eye dilated. Erick explained, “[Reincarnation] is a very powerful spell. It can do a lot. If you require an artist or doctor to fill out some of the later pages—” He stopped.

For Mox had laid the paperwork down and stared at it.

Erick calmly waited.

Mox picked the paperwork back up, saying, “I will need time to think. I had expected… I was going to say ‘me, but healed and 25’ and hope for the best. Furthermore, I wish to trust you, but as we are at the beginning of a very long relationship I will be verifying the outcome of the [Reincarnation] you have done for Zolan… Before I accept this spell upon myself.”

Mox already believed Erick’s [Reincarnation] was real, otherwise she wouldn’t be here at all, but she was testing him, to see how he reacted, and to see if he was worthy of her loyalty. A lot of people would be incensed at what was obviously a slam against one’s honor, after all; to call into question the validity of one’s magic.

But Erick was happy to prove that he was worthy of her loyalty.

“Take the time you need. As for your obvious reluctance with that ten page option…” Erick reached back into his desk and pulled out the single sheet [Reincarnation] paperwork. He slid it to her, saying, “Maybe this one is easier.”

Mox glanced over her paperwork options, then instantly abandoned the packet and grabbed the single sheet. She held it to her chest, then looked at Erick, saying, “I wish to make the oath now, and to do this [Reincarnation] tomorrow when I am better prepared for such a change. I will also need to make arrangements for a convalescence and a boost to higher levels so that I can function in an environment such as this one here at House Benevolence. Such actions will cut into the time before I can start working. I expect no more than three days delay. Including the delay from [Reincarnation], I would like to return to work four days from now.”

Mox was a precise woman.

Erick approved.

“Acceptable. If you desire, I can help you reach at least level 30 through assistance in finding and killing crystal mimics. You could convalesce here, under my watch.”

Mox said, “Your benevolence knows no bounds, and so I must impose my own. I would like to make that oath, though. I want this. Please do not interpret my measured responses as reluctance.”

Erick smiled a little. “I wasn’t interpreting it that way at all. But yes.” Erick briefly glanced to the side, and Poi walked forward. Erick asked Mox, “Do you consent to a Mind Mage truth telling?”

Mox held her head high, and said, “I consent.”

Tendrils of thought stretched from Poi and connected the three of them, as Poi said, “Then may your words and intentions be known as false, if they are false.”

Erick recalled many of the same words he had said to Zolan, then said, “I, Erick Flatt, Apparent King and Wizard of Benevolence, demand your fealty, Mox Dawnsider, for the power I shall invest in you is a privilege that you will not forsake. You will oversee my lands, my interests, and my people, as much as I shall appoint to you, growing and nurturing all under your granted purview as much as you are able, in good faith and without deceit. Should you fail, you will be punished based on the severity of your failure, but should you succeed, then you will be rewarded commensurately.”

Mox stared forward, her eye alight with life, as she said, “I, Mox Dawnsider, do so solemnly swear my fealty to you, my Apparent King and our Wizard of Benevolence, Erick Flatt. Your interests are my interests. Your goals are my goals. Your House is my House. I solemnly swear.”

Mox’s words had been different from what Zolan had sworn, but it was still well said. Erick could tell that Mox would be a great addition to House Benevolence. Just by talking to her, Erick had sorted out the necessary positions of his future small council.

“Welcome to House Benevolence, Mox.”

“Thank you, my king.”

Erick asked, “Do you want a [Gate] to Oceanside? Zolan should be sleeping in the hospital, though Kirginatharp is likely running tests on him already.”

Mox said, “I accept your offer, my king.”

And since Ophiel was still at the hospital in Oceanside, and approved for more [Gate]s, Erick gestured to the right side of the room. Silent lightning flickered and flashed open, revealing the same hospital drop room that Erick had seen not an hour ago. An orderly and a doctor stood on the other side of the room, staring at Ophiel. Both of them had great big panicked looks on their faces as they stared through the sudden portal, and saw Erick’s office room.

Erick waved.

The other people panicked, two of them running away, but a third just gave a small wave of their own back.

Mox was not panicked at all. She got up from her chair, bowed to Erick, saying, “My king,” and then she stepped through, rapidly moving on with her day. She was still clutching the single-page [Reincarnation] form to her chest as she rounded the corner of the hospital receiving room, headed toward the front desk, out of sight.

Erick closed the portal behind her.

Erick breathed out, and said to Poi, “Professional is good.”

Poi nodded, saying, “Professional is good. I think she’ll be great.”

Erick smiled wide at that. “Good. Glad you approve.”

“All the people vetted by the Headmaster will be fantastic fits for House Benevolence.” Poi laid down the folder of the next applicant. It was a thin folder. “But the people from Ar’Cosmos are more iffy.”

“Ahhh… Yeah.” Erick opened up the folder of the first applicant from Ar’Cosmos and began reading. His eyebrows went up, and then he hummed. There wasn’t much there to read… And yet? “This could be good, right?”

Poi was less sure.

Erick said, “They’re from House Death, and I already knew they were going to apply for an exterior guard-type position. This might be great.”

Poi decided to suspend what he knew to be true about the evils of necromancers, and let the incoming man speak for himself. And then he rolled his eyes at Erick, adding, “It’s still unknown how everyone will react once they see Ar’Cosmos people walking around the Gate District, so putting these people in charge of defense might cause a problem that you’re asking these people to also solve. And they’re going to be doing that defense with necromancy.”

“Well… Yes.” Erick said, “It’ll be exterior defense. Exactly as they do for Ar’Cosmos. The necromancy… it’s not actually any worse than taking a monster’s rad and turning into an enchanted item, is it? It’s all just soul power— Ah. I will have to ask about the Slave Protocols to see if they trip those or not. But if they’re just temporary summons… All things to ask, I suppose.”

Poi shrugged, saying, “All things to—”

Poi went silent as he suddenly gazed off to the east and a tendril of thought connected him to someone else.

Erick eyed that connection. He waited.

He tried not to worry.

Poi was rigid for two seconds, then he furrowed his brows, and relaxed. After a moment, he said, “Good news with regard to Zolan. The Headmaster has cleared Zolan as being Zolan, even though every single bit of his spellwork and Status is gone.”

“Ha!” Erick laughed, then said, “Fuck! Poi. Don’t scare me like— Wait a second.” Erick narrowed his eyes. “They woke him up, didn’t they.”

“Correct.”

“… Bah! Whatever. Where’s this next guy…?” Erick looked at the folder again, taking a moment to pronounce, “… Burhendurur? Where’s he at?”

– – – –

Erick sat across his desk from the next applicant, his mind whirring. He could not place where he had seen the man before and that was eating at him. Pleasantries had already been exchanged, though they were rather short and cold, for this man was extremely wary and trying not to show it by keeping his answers short and noncommittal. Which was fair, sort of.

His application had been rather short and noncommittal, too.

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That wasn’t going to fly long term, of course. But for now, this much reluctance was understandable.

Burhendurur looked like a pale incani man in his 40’s, and though he wore grey robes with white edges, he looked like he would be more comfortable in armor and with a sword in his hand. His horns were as white as bleached bone, while his hair was slightly darker than his skin.

But his horns were not really like an incani’s at all, for Burhendurur was a Death Dragon.

And Erick finally realized where he had seen the man before.

“Oh.” Erick said, “You’re Light Blight, from the Rotunda.”

With a sudden stillness, and then a relaxation, Burhendurur said, “That is correct, Wizard Flatt. That is my Ar’Cosmos name, though, and we try to keep those separate from here in this land… Many things are odd, I suppose. I’m even still wearing my horns like I usually would not…” Burhendurur paused, then said, “Should you accept me into House Benevolence, then I will be abandoning that name entirely. If you should not accept me, then I am to return with word of what has transpired here, and they will begin deliberations to send the next applicant. I will, of course, be unable to participate in those deliberations, for they will assume that I have been compromised. I am taking a risk coming here, so I would appreciate if you accept my reluctance to expose all of my true history, for now.”

That was worrying.

Erick asked, “Do they think I would not protect you? That I would allow you to come to harm without trying to stop that harm?”

“We believe that such tampering will likely happen outside of your sight, if at all. Should such an event happen and you gain notice of it, we would expect you to respond with wrath and power. Our people are watching this to see if this occurs.” Burhendurur said, “Should such a thing happen, and you do nothing, then that also answers our questions of if this alliance is a viable option, or not. Or if, perhaps, you have been mind-slaved yourself, and if you are in need of a rescue, then we will also know that.” He did not need to look at Poi, standing behind Erick, for the full measure of his worries to be known.

Erick let that information percolate for a minute.

Then he asked, “What are your orders should something happen?”

“Absolute defense and extraction of myself. I am to leave all others alone as I flee, but if I can determine exactly why such a betrayal has happened then I must accomplish this as well.”

“… Prudent.” Erick said, “So here’s the thing:

“This conversation right here is the most tense thing that’s happened to me in the last 20 days since I landed here in Candlepoint and announced myself as a Wizard and everything started exploding all over the place. I can handle tense, of course, but I would like less tension in my life.”

To his credit, and though Erick knew his own words were worrying, Burhendurur did not tense any more than he already was.

Erick continued, “Anyway. Since that day, it’s been rather nice. Calm and constructive. I have a nice new House, and I’m sleeping well enough each night. I’ve even hired two people that you probably know, and maybe you’ve even fought with them before. Zolan Goldbranch and Mox Dawnsider.”

Burhendurur went, “Ah…” his voice trailing off. He knew those two rather well, and not just by name, either.

Erick barreled on. “They are my Castellan and Overseer of the Exterior, respectively. I’m planning 4 more seats. Overseer of Law, to organize judges and matters of courtrooms and such. Overseer of Enforcement, to organize defense all throughout my lands. Overseer of Wellbeing, for education and health and stuff like that. And Overseer of Magic, for Elemental Benevolence testing and other magical matters. I imagine the Overseer of Wellbeing will see to a generalized education for all people in my lands, while the Overseer of Magic will see to magical education.

“I have way too many applications for the 6 seats available.

“So a lot of these applicants are going to be relegated to lesser positions than those 6 on my small council.” Erick said, “I’ve decided that Oceanside is getting the two seats they have, since the two people I invited into those positions are two of the absolute best I could have asked for. I’m still taking the other 14 applicants, though, since they’re all dying and I can [Reincarnation] them into new lives. Adding to this, Kirginatharp just cleared my magic as real, so that’s opening a floodgate that I am going to take advantage of while I can.

“I have a weakness for helping people, so what.

“Probably won’t start healing everyone, though. Still have to think about that.

“That’s what has happened recently, and most of that doesn’t affect Ar’Cosmos, or at least not directly.

“This construction I have begun is a problem for you for a different reason, for Ar’Cosmos has only given me 3 applications, and I’m going to accept all three. And so, Oceanside’s forces are going to outweigh you by a very, very large number. Not to mention all the other applicants I have yet to hire from the wrought, and other peoples. Ar’Cosmos is minimizing their exposure to House Benevolence at their peril.” Erick said, “Now; with all that known to you, tell me if I have made a mistake somewhere, and that I am not seeing exactly the problems as they exist.”